EDWARD WHITACRE

By Unmesh KherFriday, Apr. 20, 2007

Justin Sullivan / Getty

Edward Whitcare

AGE: 67
OCCUPATION: Chairman and CEO of AT&T
NUMBER OF TIME COVERS: 0
PREVIOUS APPEARANCES ON THE TIME 100: 0

PRO: Bought competitor after competitor to create the world's largest telecommunications firm. Whitacre has just won approval from the FCC to acquire BellSouth in a deal worth $80 billion, and is now moving boldly to offer video services over AT&T's lines.

CON: The size of the company will invite the scrutiny of Congress. And cable operators offer stiff competition on all fronts.